The Secretary-General was in Cannes on Thursday,
where he is taking part in the G20 Summit. He participated in working
sessions on “Growth and Jobs” and discussed development and trade in
another session with the G20 leaders.

Earlier on Thursday morning on
the margins of the G20, the Secretary-General spoke at the
2011 Labour Summit. He said that the Cannes
summit had to be about more than financial fire-fighting. It must be about
global economic recovery – growth that is sustainable and inclusive, he
added.

The Secretary-General also said
it was time to write a new social contract for the 21st century that
includes a Global Jobs Pact. He said that at a time of crisis and confusion;
discord and division; inequality and injustice, we were all called to
moral battle once again.

On Thursday evening, the
Secretary-General is expected to meet with the President of the European
Commission and the President of the European Council; the Prime Minister
of Ethiopia; and the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates. He met
earlier this morning with the President of the Republic of Korea.

Asked whether the
Secretary-General’s call for solidarity, unity and social justice is new,
the Deputy Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General’s language is
evolving. The Secretary-General is very concerned that meetings between
groups of countries focus exclusively on problems facing those countries,
but that he wants them to look beyond their national borders and
interests. The Deputy Spokesperson added that the Secretary-General says
there is a great need for the international community to establish
policies and global perspectives to address problems for people in the
long-term and provide real solutions.

U.N. ENVOY TO GUINEA-BISSAU
BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL

On Thursday, the Security Council met to discuss the
Secretary-General’s report on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the
activities of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office (UNIOGBIS) there.

The Secretary General’s Special
Representative for Guinea-Bissau,
Joseph Mutaboba, said that the national authorities, with the assistance
of international partners, have steered the country in the right direction
and have consolidated important gains, resulting in a better political and
security environment.

He underscored the need to
continue to build upon these gains as the country embarks on a sensitive
electoral process in 2012.

On Thursday afternoon, the
Committee on the Admission of New Members will meet in a closed session.

GAZA AID MUST GO THROUGH ESTABLISHED CHANNELS, SAYS BAN KI-MOON

Asked about a flotilla headed
towards Gaza, the Deputy Spokesperson said
that that the Secretary-General’s view remains that assistance and goods
destined to Gaza
should be channeled through official crossings and established channels.
He calls on all involved to act responsibly and with caution to avoid any
violent incident.

The Secretary-General is fully
aware that the extensive restrictions imposed on the movement of people
and goods in and out of the Gaza Strip through the closure of land
crossings perpetuate an unsustainable situation for the population.

He has consistently called for
the lifting of the closure of Gaza,
and continues to do so, consistent with Security Council resolution 1860
(2009).

He has taken note of the
reports that the vessels could reach the waters off Gaza on Friday and is calling on all
sides to exercise restraint.

PARTICIPATION IN
INTERNATIONAL BODIES PREROGATIVE OF MEMBER STATES – SECRETARY-GENERAL

Asked about the
Secretary-General’s views on Palestinian membership in other United
Nations agencies, the Deputy Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General
has said that it is the prerogative of Member States to decide on
membership in international organizations. It is also the
Secretary-General’s function, as head of the United Nations, to ensure
that the United Nations functions properly and smoothly and is adequately
financed to meet its goals and objectives.

Asked about Israel’s decision to expand
settlements, the Deputy Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General is
deeply concerned at the decisions announced by the Government of Israel in
response to the decision of the General Conference of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in favour of Palestinian
membership.Israeli settlement activity
is contrary to international law and the Roadmap and prejudices final
status negotiations.The
Secretary-General calls on the Government of Israel to freeze all
settlement activity and to continue to transfer VAT and customs revenues
that belong to the Palestinian Authority and are essential to enable it to
function, in line with Israel’s
obligations.

Asked whether the
Secretary-General believes the Security Council should take action on the
issue of settlements, the Deputy Spokesperson said this is a matter for
Security Council to decide.

Asked about the agreement
between Syria and the
Arab League, the Deputy Spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General said
yesterday in Libya
that he is aware of the agreement and voiced hope that it would be
implemented immediately. The sufferings and killings have gone on for far
too long. This is what he has been discussing with Syrian President Bashar
Al-Assad.

U.N. FOOD PRICE INDEX
DIPS IN OCTOBER

The Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) reports that
its food price index dropped to an 11-month low in October.

The drop in the index was
triggered by the sharp declines in international prices of cereals, oils,
sugar and dairy products.

In spite of this, prices still
remain generally higher than last year and continue to be very volatile,
the Organization warned.

U.N. TAKING PART IN
VIDEO PROJECT INCORPORATING FOOTAGE FROM ALL COUNTRIES

The United Nations, in
collaboration with the “One Day on Earth” online video community, is preparing
for what will be the first ever global screening of a film that includes
footage that was shot in every country on the planet on a single day.

The movie, which bears the same
title as the organization, One Day on Earth, will be screened in every
country of the world on the same day in late February 2012.

One Day on Earth produced the
film in partnership with the United Nations, more than 60 non-profit
organizations, and a growing online community of over 19,000 filmmakers,
both experienced and novices.

On 10 October 2010, the One Day
on Earth community, including over 95 United Nations country offices,
filmed in every country of the world, capturing both the joys and the struggles
of everyday life. The film pulls from the resulting 3,000 hours of
footage, which is now a shared-for-use archive for all those that
participated.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. SET TO LAUNCH NEW JOINT COUNTER-TERRORISM
REPORT: The United
Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) will launch on
Thursday, 10 November, a new report concerning our coordinated response in the
event of a terrorist attack using chemical or biological weapons or materials.

The launch
will be held at the International Peace Institute (IPI).

QUARTET URGES RESTRAINT: Asked about reports of Israeli
missile capability, the Deputy Spokesperson noted that the Quartet has called
on all parties in the region not to engage in provocative actions.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR RELEASE OF
KIDNAPPED AID WORKERS: Asked about reports of three non-governmental organizations kidnapped in
southern Algeria,
the Deputy Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General has expressed his deep
concern. He has asked all sides to refrain from actions that might endanger
them and has called for their immediate release.